Matthijs de Ligt has also been linked to a number of Europe's biggest clubs

But Arsenal boss Unai Emery will have to boost his summer transfer budget by qualifying for the Champions League AND offloading Mesut Ozil — to wipe his £350,000-a-week off the wage bill — to be able to meet Ajax’s £70million valuation.

Emery will have a budget of just £40m if he fails to finish in the top four — or qualify for the Champions League by winning the Europa League — in his rookie Premier League season.

De Ligt is seen as an elite player after an amazing start to his career in Eredivisie and has already been handed the Ajax captaincy.